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The insidious danger of escapism

Updated: May 13, 2020

For a more than a century, science fiction has propelled mankind to believe that altruism, uniformity and self-sacrifice are the future of humanity. Why that is dangerously misguided.

Here is a question for you. Does an individual care more about themselves and their family or random strangers and society?


This may seem like a cynical and simplistic question, but it has grave consequences for humankind. Before going on from here, contemplate this for a moment. You have a loaf of bread. There are three people in your house-- two next door neighbors and a person going door-to-door to collect food for the homeless. Where does the bread go?


This being a rhetorical question-- I am not going to answer it myself. But if I were an action hero, I would probably sacrifice it for the better good. After all-- that is the basis of epic fiction-- the sacrifice of the hero for something greater than themselves. If it ends happily its a comedy. If it ends badly its a tragedy. Either way, the actions of the hero are supposed to inspire us to better things.


The difference over the past few generations however is this. Whereas heroes past had to deal with psychological and physical monsters, twentieth and twenty-first century heroes have had to deal with selfishness and bureaucracy; ego and greed-- emotion over logic or (visa-versa).


Pop-culture, from the musings of popular music to the blockbusters of action adventure films, have underscored a belief that a unified world devoid of ego, and individuality is desirable and futuristic-- while individualism and entrepreneurial-ism is cast as selfish and counter productive to society.


These tropes are everywhere and anything but subtle, whether its the haughty pedigree cum evil of the Malfoys of the world, or the sexless one piece unitards of Star-fleet crew members, the lines of good and evil in popular fiction are as clear as they are classist. Its no wonder Hollywood feels a need to socially signal at every opportunity-- they are so seeped in the tea of this delusion that they can't see through the swirling tannins of their own prejudice.


The danger comes in when reality encroaches on this foible of dreams and delusion. When a real crises comes along and governments and science are just as human as we are. Just as frail, Just as self-centered, Just as survivalist for their livelihoods, jobs, and reputations-- just as jealous with their power and the preservation of their power-- the viewers are frustrated and confused. Where is the kindness? Where is the dream for a greater good?


Altruism begins and ends at the stomach. Those who are well-fed can afford to be generous those who are not-- can't. The second problem arrives at what constitutes satisfaction and excess. These are fluid and arbitrary concepts that shift from person to person and culture to culture-- something fiction never quite addresses. Like economics, logistics, envy and covetousness.


There is nothing wrong with wanting a better world. There is everything wrong with basing it on a 15 minute movie pitch made into a two hour feature film designed to evoke emotions. Emotions never solve problems. Reason does.

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